How does Parks and Wildlife manage weeds?

Parks and Wildlife Service prioritises weeds in each region, based on their:

invasiveness

ecological impact

potential and current distribution

feasibility of control.

The resulting priorities focus on weeds considered to be high impact, rapidly invasive and still at a population size that can feasibly be eradicated or contained to a manageable size.

This means that weed species which are already widespread are not ranked as a high priority.

The next stage of the process is to identify high value biodiversity assets, the weeds that pose a threat to these assets, and the sites where control will have the greatest benefit and cost effectiveness. Social, cultural and economic assets as well as good neighbour issues are considered at a later stage of the process.

Summaries of the species ecological impact and invasiveness rankings are provided to help other landholders, community groups and private enterprises manage weeds that might impact on the natural environment.

Note: The prioritisation for individual weeds within a Parks and Wildlife Service region should be treated as a guide and does not diminish any other requirements of land managers or developers, such as Declared Plants requirements of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 or Ministerial requirements under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

Some species that occur on these prioritisation lists are native to specific regions of Western Australia as they have shown 'weedy' tendencies outside their natural range, such as on islands in the Pilbara region.